Hampton Villa, Historic residence in Balmain, New South Wales, Australia.
Hampton Villa is a sandstone house with Georgian-inspired design located on Grafton Street in Balmain overlooking Sydney Harbour. The building features a wide verandah and sits within grounds that include heritage palm plantings dating to the original property layout.
Edward Hunt, a cabinetmaker and Sydney alderman, built Hampton Villa between 1847 and 1849 on land he bought in 1847; the design is attributed to John Verge but not conclusively. Hunt died in the house in 1866, and his widow Hannah stayed until 1872. From 1888 to 1892 Sir Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, lived there as a tenant.
The house is named after Hampton Cottage, the earlier weatherboard building on the site. Its 14-foot ceilings and cedar joinery were gentleman's-house features. Tenant Henry Parkes, Premier of New South Wales, lived here from 1888 to 1892, a period of turmoil in his career and personal life.
Visit during daylight hours to appreciate the sandstone details and garden fully, and note that the property is best viewed from the street and surrounding areas. The location offers easy walking access to the local neighborhood with shops and dining options nearby.
The 1878 extension of Ewenton Street to Grafton Street cut the original estate in two, leaving the house on the eastern portion; this was the first of several subdivisions of Hunt's roughly 3.5 acres between Adolphus Street and Camerons Cove.
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